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National Museum of Industrial History

EIN 23-2912750 · Bethlehem, PA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak29 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF INDUSTRIAL HISTORY, IN AFFILIATION WITH THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE IS: TO FORGE A CONNECTION BETWEEN AMERICA'S INDUSTRIAL PAST AND THE INNOVATIONS OF TODAY BY EDUCATING THE PUBLIC AND INSPIRING THE VISIONARIES OF TOMORROW.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
-16.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
33
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$76,500, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 29 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $707,230 spent. THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF INDUSTRIAL HISTORY CELEBRATES THE STORY OF AMERICA'S RICH INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE. INVENTORS, MANUFACTURERS, INNOVATORS, WORKERS, AND THEIR PRODUCTS ARE SHOWCASED WITHIN A TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY INDUSTRIAL BUILDING ON THE SITE OF THE FORMER BETHLEHEM STEEL CORPORATION BETHLEHEM PLANT.IN OUR MACHINERY HALL, TREASURED ARTIFACTS ON LOAN FROM THE SMITHSONIAN'S NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY FASCINATE VISITORS. INSPIRED BY THE 1876 CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION IN PHILADELPHIA, VISITORS LEARN ABOUT THE INGENUITY OF VARIOUS INVENTORS AND ARE CAPTIVATED BY AN IMPRESSIVE DISPLAY OF EARLY MACHINES; DRILL PRESSES AND LATHES, BOILERS AND STEAM ENGINES. THE IRON AND STEEL GALLERY CONVEYS THE MASSIVE SCALE OF THE STEEL INDUSTRY FROM RAW MATERIALS TO MANUFACTURED PRODUCT AND ITS ROLE IN BUILDING AND DEFENDING THE COUNTRY. VISITORS LEARN HOW NATURAL FIBERS WERE WOVEN INTO SILK DAMASK AND THE CHANGING NATURE OF THE AMERICAN WORKER IN FACTORIES ACROSS THE NATION. THE PROPANE GALLERY HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE SCIENTIST IN CREATING NEW FORMS OF ENERGY. FROM THE SOUNDS OF A MOVING LINE SHAFTING AND LISTENING TO WORKERS' STORIES TO GIVING VISITORS THE CHANCE TO PHYSICALLY REPLICATE WORK HAPPENING IN THE STEEL AND SILK MILLS OF OUR REGION, OUR GALLERIES EMBRACE THE INTERACTIVE PHILOSOPHY AND PROVIDE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE TO ENGAGE THE VISITOR. THE EXHIBITS AT NMIH INCORPORATE CHANGING ELEMENTS TO ALLOW FOR ONGOING UPDATING AND SPECIAL SEASONAL OFFERINGS. MANY OF OUR INTERPRETIVE GUIDES HAVE WORKED IN INDUSTRY AND PROVIDE A LIVING REFERENCE SOURCE FOR INQUISITIVE VISITORS AND SCHOOL GROUPS. DOCENTS ARE HIGHLY TRAINED TO COVEY COMPLEX MESSAGES IN A SIMPLE MANNER AND ARE THE KEY TO MAKING THE MUSEUM A PLACE THAT INSPIRES.
  2. $341,660 spent. ADMISSION TO THE MUSEUM IS AIMED AT MAKING AN ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE FOR OUR VISITORS AS THEY FORGE A CONNECTION BETWEEN AMERICA'S INDUSTRIAL PAST AND THE INNOVATIONS OF TODAY BY EDUCATING THEM AND INSPIRING THE VISIONARIES OF TOMORROW. OUR DOCENT LED TOURS ENHANCE VISITOR EXPERIENCE WITH A GUIDED TOUR ON THE EXHIBITION. IN ADDITION WE OFFER A MENU OF UNIQUE TOURS THAT PROVIDE IN-DEPTH EDUCATION ON THE ARTIFACTS AND HOW THEY RELATE TO AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1997.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

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